$33 Week Food Stamp: Booker is a Failure

[CalGun]

These "stunts" by our government to promote how hard it is to survive on Food Stamps bug me.
First of all if you buy day to day you are of course going to lose out on trying to eat at $4.71 per
day, but if you carry it over a 3 week period of time ($99) and buy some items in at least "minimal"
bulk quantity its quite easy and I've been beating that for some time. Mind you I also pay for a
Costco Membership and get a good deal of my groceries there, but I also shop at Wal Mart for
some food items - particularly low cost meats because I can't afford the Costco package of meats.
Here is sample of what you can get for 3 weeks for one person and have left overs:

From Costco
$10.00 bag of add water pancake mix. 90 servings which are small but plenty for 30 days
$10.00 for a box of 52 packets of oatmeal (brand name) which is enough for 26 days
My breakfast budget is pretty much set for 56 days for $20 but I'll add some toast

$ 8.00 for six bags of pasta would provide me 24 servings of pasta with whatever I choose
$ 7.00 on a bag of 4 lbs of black rice (spurge from Costco less at walmart for brown rice)
That bag of rice is good for 24 (my)servings as well
$15.00 on 8 cans or chicken or beef one or the other and I often rotate
$ 8.00 for 10 cans of condensed veggie beaf or chicken noodle soup (wal-mart)
$ 9.00 for 3 bottles of alfredo sauce (should learn to make this) or 2 large bottles of
spaghetti sauce (rotate)
$ 6.00 for two loafs of bread (need to learn to make that too)
$ 6.00 for a package of lunch meat
$ 6.00 for a large bottle or large container of butter or bottle of mayo (rotate) - lasts
a lot longer than 21 days each - even 42 days each
$ 6.00 for a big bag of brocolli - good for at least 12 meals
$ 5.00 for a big bag of carrots - good for at least 9 meals plus snacks
$ 3.00 for a box of 4 packages of crackers

You can get all of that on your $33 per week food stamp allowance and have
left overs for breakfast, pasta, rice, probably butter and mayo too. When you
have left overs you can spend on cereal, milk, and a variety of other items that
are still affordable as well.

These media events to show the plight of EBT/Food Stamps really are discerning.
They should be teaching the people that need this stuff to live off staples and
buy in bulk - they'd have money left over.

 

[Carjosse]

Now what is the nutrition value of all that?

 

[Dickieboy]

What you have presented is what disturbs me the MOST about EBT usage. I frequently notice prepackaged high end foodstuffs being checked out in front of me in the checkout line. I once watched a woman checkout 6 boxes of frozen White Castle burgers…I really try to not be judgmental but DAMN!

 

[sawyerloggingon]

If you bought rice, beans, potatoes and vegetables you would have food stamps left over. I have been poor and thats what I ate. I was perfectly healthy and did not take one single food stamp.

 

[CalGun]

Not a clue. My wife and I spend about $200 a month on food and that includes an
eat out treat once a month. We grow a lot, I kill a lot of rattle snakes and they
replace those cans of chicken quite easily, and so its not hard. Its just when I read
about these gimicks and they are granted the "headlines" that they have today
(look yahoo.com) I think what stupidity people are being fed. The fact is its quite
easy to live off $33 per week per person if you are smart about it.

The home I bought 3 years ago was key because I was able to garden big, had
two orange trees, two peach trees, an almond tree and I've added 3 pears and
three plum trees to the mix. Its just not that hard to get by on these figures,
and I know people in urban housing can't have gardens and trees like that,
but they can access stores like Costco, Wal Mart and others that offer more
than affordable solutions.

Like I noted I must learn how to create my own bread, sauces and I'm sure I
can do even better. There are plenty of people who do. Also the canned meats
are probably not nearly as good as buying fresh and cooking to use them over
a period of several days.

Now what is the nutrition value of all that?

 

[a351]

Surely there's a lot of folks who get by, some quite comfortably with the help of food stamps, but this stunt is probably trying to demonstrate that most folks are simply getting by, not living high on the hog as some would claim.

 

[Dickieboy]

I already see where you can save. Purchase flour and prepare your own pancakes, bread (your realize it is just flour, yeast, sugar and water), pasta and alfredo sauce…Bulk rolled oats would be much less expensive than the ‘packets’.

 

[CalGun]

I tried the plain oats, and my wife asked me to get the "flavored" packets. At 52/ $10 its not bad and she actually only eats one at a time so they last a very long time - they also have a great shelf life which is good but you are right. I definitely need to study making my own bread though; I love the pancake mix that we buy - I've never created any on my own that match them and they don't require milk. That means a long shelf life for that product too - so I can stock up and not have to worry about needing fresh milk to enjoy.

I already see where you can save. Purchase flour and prepare your own pancakes, bread (your realize it is just flour, yeast, sugar and water), pasta and alfredo sauce…Bulk rolled oats would be much less expensive than the ‘packets’.

 

[UtahBill]

Now what is the nutrition value of all that?

better that how I ate when I was a kid....
when I joined the Navy, I gained 20 pounds almost immediately....
I had no idea what butter tasted like, always had margarine at home...
likewise never had honey, real cheese, pizza, better cuts of beef or pork, broccoli, brussel sprouts or any of the typically frozen veggies, just the cheaper canned stuff....beets, corn, spinach, green beans, etc. Mashed taters came out of a box and were often almost as runny as the gravy, also out of a box. Spam, corned beef hash, oatmeal, etc.
we ate a lot of fish that we caught, rice and beans, meatloaf, ...sundays was fried chicken day, 1 damn chicken for 7 of us.
Leftovers? had no idea what that meant at the time...My favorite meal was lunch, at school....

 

[Carjosse]

Not a clue. My wife and I spend about $200 a month on food and that includes an
eat out treat once a month. We grow a lot, I kill a lot of rattle snakes and they
replace those cans of chicken quite easily, and so its not hard. Its just when I read
about these gimicks and they are granted the "headlines" that they have today
(look yahoo.com) I think what stupidity people are being fed. The fact is its quite
easy to live off $33 per week per person if you are smart about it.

The home I bought 3 years ago was key because I was able to garden big, had
two orange trees, two peach trees, an almond tree and I've added 3 pears and
three plum trees to the mix. Its just not that hard to get by on these figures,
and I know people in urban housing can't have gardens and trees like that,
but they can access stores like Costco, Wal Mart and others that offer more
than affordable solutions.

Like I noted I must learn how to create my own bread, sauces and I'm sure I
can do even better. There are plenty of people who do. Also the canned meats
are probably not nearly as good as buying fresh and cooking to use them over
a period of several days.

You have it pretty good, you can grow your own food and hunt. Most people on food stamps cannot.

 

[Dickieboy]

I tried the plain oats, and my wife asked me to get the "flavored" packets. At 52/ $10 its not bad and she actually only eats one at a time so they last a very long time - they also have a great shelf life which is good but you are right.

You/she’s right plain oats are CRAP (I prefer steel cut myself)! But you can purchase cinnamon and brown sugar in bulk (long shelf life), plant some strawberry plants and blueberry bushes in the yard (little space required) even consider purchasing some locally harvested honey (which is supposed to help allergies if local), you have fruit and nut trees...

I definitely need to study making my own bread though;

Steer your studies into sourdough. This eliminates the need to purchase bread yeast. It is not as ‘light’ as store bought bread but close.
Ps. It also makes GREAT pancakes!

I love the pancake mix that we buy - I've never created any on my own that match them and they don't require milk. That means a long shelf life for that product too - so I can stock up and not have to worry about needing fresh milk to enjoy.

NO PROBLEM. Purchase powdered milk, again in bulk…VERY versatile, long shelf life, great in mixes/recipes but SUCKS to drink.

 

[Dickieboy]

You have it pretty good, you can grow your own food and hunt. Most people on food stamps cannot.

This is just plain false. MANY states/cities have areas set aside for folks to grow their own gardens (we had a thread on this earlier this year w/photos). MANY states have public areas to hunt AND fish with regulations that allow taking fish/game without license. The issue is that many folks will not try...

 

[tererun]

First off, I don't think costco takes EBT. I could be wrong now, but i know the last time I tried to help someone on them to shop they could not go there or Sam's club. I think BJ's takes EBTY now. I am not exactly sure why that is so, but before you claim it is possible do make sure it is possible. Second, it is not impossible to survive on SNAP benefits. If it is your food budget you have to forget all brand named foods. You can forget most snack foods. if you are diabetic you are in deep **** because most bulk foods are high in sugars and carbs and the alternatives are mostly high priced. You can forget about expensive cuts of beef, most seafood, most prepared foods, and you really have to watch what you are spending. it is inconvenient and restrictive unless you have some sort of income and are using it to supplement.

You also have to note it only covers edibles. So if you want to cook and store your foods you have to pay for cookware, storage materials, refrigerator, and whatever you cook on. Not to mention things like cleaning supplies to clean up after you make your meal. It is not just a matter of getting the food, you also have to prepare it somehow. for a person who is destitute that is a big problem on it's own.

Still, it is not impossible to do, and the difficulty and restrictions make it annoying enough that it should drive most people to look for a solution that allows them more flexibility and better foods. it is at a bare minimum for people who need it. IOf you want to save money on the system I would recommend kicking people off the program who don't need it rather than cutting the benefits for those that do.

 

[Carjosse]

This is just plain false. MANY states/cities have areas set aside for folks to grow their own gardens (we had a thread on this earlier this year w/photos). MANY states have public areas to hunt AND fish with regulations that allow taking fish/game without license. The issue is that many folks will not try...

Gardens are not exactly easy to find at least in my experience here, I also wonder how do you hunt and fish when you can't even afford food? Don't you need to buy a gun or fishing equipment?

 

[tererun]

This is just plain false. MANY states/cities have areas set aside for folks to grow their own gardens (we had a thread on this earlier this year w/photos). MANY states have public areas to hunt AND fish with regulations that allow taking fish/game without license. The issue is that many folks will not try...

yeah, there are not many areas for that in big cities. Also, SNAP does nto cover hunting supplies, fishing supplies, or the tools needed for preparing the meat. They do not cover costs of gardening and tools. That is if you can get to an area that allows for such things. You are not going to get too far trying to hunt in NYC or even it's surrounding suburbs. Why don't poor people with no money just buy rifles, bullets, and go out shooting on private property where it is illegal to do so and then butcher their own kills in their appartment despite health codes, all with the tools they cannot buy because they don't have money. Oh yeah, because for most of them it is not a possibility legally or financially, but you remain ignorant and keep pretending it is just a matter of them being lazy. It is much better than seeing reality.

 

[CalGun]

I'm not disputing that, but I am disputing you can't get buy on $33 a week; and merely showed "how."

You have it pretty good, you can grow your own food and hunt. Most people on food stamps cannot.

 

[PirateMk1]

First off, I don't think costco takes EBT. I could be wrong now, but i know the last time I tried to help someone on them to shop they could not go there or Sam's club. I think BJ's takes EBTY now. I am not exactly sure why that is so, but before you claim it is possible do make sure it is possible. Second, it is not impossible to survive on SNAP benefits. If it is your food budget you have to forget all brand named foods. You can forget most snack foods. if you are diabetic you are in deep **** because most bulk foods are high in sugars and carbs and the alternatives are mostly high priced. You can forget about expensive cuts of beef, most seafood, most prepared foods, and you really have to watch what you are spending. it is inconvenient and restrictive unless you have some sort of income and are using it to supplement.

You also have to note it only covers edibles. So if you want to cook and store your foods you have to pay for cookware, storage materials, refrigerator, and whatever you cook on. Not to mention things like cleaning supplies to clean up after you make your meal. It is not just a matter of getting the food, you also have to prepare it somehow. for a person who is destitute that is a big problem on it's own.

Still, it is not impossible to do, and the difficulty and restrictions make it annoying enough that it should drive most people to look for a solution that allows them more flexibility and better foods. it is at a bare minimum for people who need it. IOf you want to save money on the system I would recommend kicking people off the program who don't need it rather than cutting the benefits for those that do.

Damn that is the smartest thing you have written and I agree with it. The world must be comming to and end. I honestly thought you were nuts.

 

[Dickieboy]

yeah, there are not many areas for that in big cities. Also, SNAP does nto cover hunting supplies, fishing supplies, or the tools needed for preparing the meat. They do not cover costs of gardening and tools. That is if you can get to an area that allows for such things. You are not going to get too far trying to hunt in NYC or even it's surrounding suburbs. Why don't poor people with no money just buy rifles, bullets, and go out shooting on private property where it is illegal to do so and then butcher their own kills in their appartment despite health codes, all with the tools they cannot buy because they don't have money. Oh yeah, because for most of them it is not a possibility legally or financially, but you remain ignorant and keep pretending it is just a matter of them being lazy. It is much better than seeing reality.

Thank you for expanding my point...

 

[Dickieboy]

Gardens are not exactly easy to find at least in my experience here, I also wonder how do you hunt and fish when you can't even afford food? Don't you need to buy a gun or fishing equipment?

One in the previously mentioned garden thread was in NYC...not sure where you are but the are around.

Around here I've seen Latinos dig balls of fishing line and disposed lures out of garbage cans, wrap the line around a beer can for a reel and fish quite effectively and it cost the $0. As to hunting expenses one must be creative AND motivated...it's that will/way thing...but of course you are probably right if they can get their groceries out of they mailbox why bother...

 

[MaggieD]

Now what is the nutrition value of all that?

One-A-Day vitamins: $6.00.

 

[Carjosse]

One in the previously mentioned garden thread was in NYC...not sure where you are but the are around.

Around here I've seen Latinos dig balls of fishing line and disposed lures out of garbage cans, wrap the line around a beer can for a reel and fish quite effectively and it cost the $0. As to hunting expenses one must be creative AND motivated...it's that will/way thing...but of course you are probably right if they can get their groceries out of they mailbox why bother...

Well it is just far more efficient on the little energy you can get form food stamps. I imagine if you actually did the math it makes more sense to use food stamps.

 

[Dickieboy]

Well it is just far more efficient on the little energy you can get form food stamps. I imagine if you actually did the math it makes more sense to use food stamps.

Math...what math? Food stamps are free to recipients...is that your point?

 

[Carjosse]

Math...what math? Food stamps are free to recipients...is that your point?

No I mean the math for the energy form the food. The mechanical efficiency is probably far higher if you just use food stamps and not waste energy trying to get other food. I forget the equation but it's in my physics book somewhere.

 

[Dickieboy]

No I mean the math for the energy form the food. The mechanical efficiency is probably far higher if you just use food stamps and not waste energy trying to get other food. I forget the equation but it's in my physics book somewhere.

OK, got it. You're probably right from a mechanical efficiency point. But what is the point? Considering this wouldn't it be more efficient for us ALL to get food stamps and thus not have to expend energy to provide for ourselves?

 

[Carjosse]

OK, got it. You're probably right from a mechanical efficiency point. But what is the point? Considering this wouldn't it be more efficient for us ALL to get food stamps and thus not have to expend energy to provide for ourselves?

Money > More Food > More Energy > Potentially More Money (May be Lost To Laziness) > Even More Food > Even More Energy